Yorkshire should get the credit they deserve

Ryan Sidebottom and Jack Brooks have proven to be a lethal bowling combination (©GettyImages).

Yorkshire captured their 31st County Championship by ruthlessly defeating second-placed Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge by an innings and 152 runs. This performance followed a very similar pattern to most of their games this season.

They have won eight games this season, five of which have been by an innings.

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Batting line-up 

Yorkshire's young batting line-up has been prolific scoring heavily in most games and with Adam Lyth, the leading run-scorer in division one, the oldest at just 26 years of age the future is bright for the White Rose county.

Their bowling has been based on a strong opening partnership between veteran seamer Ryan Sidebottom and the ever-reliable Jack Brooks. With over 100 Championship wickets between them they have proved to be a thorn in most batting line-ups all season.

Adil Rashid has underlined his growing stature once again with an excellent season with bat and ball. He could well force his way back into the England reckoning if he continues this form in the early part of next summer.

Liam Plunkett started the season in great form, which led to an England call-up, but unfortunately injury has blighted the second half of the season. His move to Yorkshire from Durham has given Plunkett the opportunity to recapture the form that led him into the England side at the beginning of his career.

Yorkshire have succeeded despite England selecting a number of their players. Their most noticeable absentees, Joe Root and Gary Ballance, have only played a handful of games but their absence has helped give opportunities to other players.

As well as individual excellence Yorkshire's success has also been built on their huge team ethic and camaraderie. Coach Jason Gillespie can be partly thanked for this but there is no doubt that all the players have a huge bond due to their love of their county. Ten of the eleven players who played against Nottinghamshire came through the hugely successful Yorkshire Academy and their togetherness and toughness has helped them through what is always a demanding county season.

Strong squad 

Yorkshire's squad is very strong, of that there is no doubt, but the team that is selected still has to perform on the pitch as we all know nothing is won on paper. Captain Andrew Gale has marshalled the players extremely well all season and it was a great shame that he was unable to lift the trophy at Trent Bridge after being absent through suspension.

With the exception of the last few sessions against Middlesex at Lords where they suffers their only defeat of the season, and where the home side chased down a record winning score, Yorkshire have outperformed all their opponents with both bat and ball.

It has been quite a reversal of fortune for the White Rose county as they were relegated to division two as recently as 2011. Following their relegation Jason Gillespie was brought in and he has worked wonders ever since. Yorkshire achieved promotion back to division one in 2012 and then last year finished runners-up to Durham. This year they have gone one better and this success is down to some outstanding displays with both bat and ball but also a
hard-working team ethic that is second to none.

It could be another golden period for Yorkshire cricket, with more honours to follow, but they will need to stick by the formula that has proven so successful this season.